Episode 81: Each Moves With Their Own Thoughts (3)
Light Novel: Volume 4 Chapter 2
Manhwa: Chapter 67-68
Chapter 2. Each Moves With Their Own Thoughts (3)
“Ehem!”
Lee Shin-chung cleared his throat with an awkward expression.
In front of him sat Lee Gwak, his expression calm and composed. At his waist hung the blade he had received from Eun Kwang-ho.
Lee Gwak’s face hadn’t changed at all from when they first met, and yet Lee Shin-chung alone seemed restless.
It was because he couldn’t figure out how to position himself in relation to Lee Gwak.
Lee Gwak was merely a warrior of the Outer Hall of the Jade Heaven Alliance. Though he was called a squad leader, in the grand scale of the Alliance, he was nothing more than a low-ranking subordinate. Their statuses were clearly worlds apart.
Even so, treating him casually as before now felt inappropriate, especially because of the weight of his martial aura.
Eun Kwang-ho had said that Lee Gwak would undoubtedly become a great bladesman.
And the Eun Kwang-ho he knew was not someone who made careless remarks.
Though he was a stubborn eccentric, Eun Kwang-ho’s insight in gauging a martial artist’s level through their weapon alone was unmatched.
‘Just how profound is his martial prowess…?’
He tried to raise his sensory qi to assess Lee Gwak’s internal energy, but his sensory qi picked up nothing.
‘Could he truly have attained the realm of returning to one’s true essence?’
If his suspicion turned out to be true, it would be truly astonishing.
When a person’s martial arts reach an extremely high level, it paradoxically appears to be ordinary, and this is known as returning to one’s true essence.
There were not many who had attained that realm at Lee Gwak’s age.
Even among the highest-tier talents of Jianghu, only a rare few had managed to seize that state. Yet here was an ordinary warrior of the Outer Hall who had reached it.
Lee Shin-chung suddenly felt goosebumps rise all over his body. That was how shocking the existence of Lee Gwak was.
‘Someone like this is merely a low-ranking subordinate of the Jade Heaven Alliance?’
Even if it was the Jade Heaven Alliance, known as the Dragon’s Lair and Tiger’s Den, he couldn’t help but think this was going too far.
He cautiously asked Lee Gwak,
“By any chance, Squad Leader Lee, are you a covert warrior of the Jade Heaven Alliance?”
“No.”
“Then… did someone perhaps privately teach you martial arts?”
“No.”
“Then are you saying you learned it all on your own?”
To Lee Shin-chung’s careful question, Lee Gwak closed his eyes for a moment.
He had expected that the fact he’d reached such a high realm of martial arts would be revealed eventually, but he didn’t expect it to be exposed not in the Jade Heaven Alliance, but here in the Ten Thousand Merchant Union.
After collecting his thoughts for a moment, Lee Gwak finally opened his mouth.
“All my martial arts were self-taught. My study is still shallow, and I’m far from skilled. I’m not the remarkable person Master Lee thinks I am.”
“If someone like Squad Leader Lee isn’t remarkable, then the warriors of our Golden Sword Pavilion must be nothing more than parasites wasting money. We’ve spent tens of thousands of gold just to raise them, after all.”
At Lee Shin-chung’s lavish praise, Lee Gwak showed an awkward expression. He had never received this sort of compliment before.
Lee Shin-chung cautiously asked once more,
“Would you be willing to leave the Jade Heaven Alliance and take a position in the Ten Thousand Merchant Union? If you are, we will treat you with the highest honors.”
Lee Gwak was taken aback by the sudden proposal.
This place was none other than the Ten Thousand Merchant Union.
The place that had amassed the greatest wealth under the heavens.
If he moved to the Ten Thousand Merchant Union, he would undoubtedly be able to live comfortably.
Just like the warriors of the Golden Sword Pavilion, he would receive astonishing secret manuals and spiritual elixirs.
To say that his heart wasn’t swayed would be a lie.
At that moment, the image of a certain man surfaced in Lee Gwak’s mind.
The man who had introduced himself as Go Geomwol.
At the thought of him, the blood in his body suddenly turned cold.
Go Geomwol had said that a thread of fate bound the two of them together. But Lee Gwak never believed that the thread he spoke of was a benevolent one.
Just remembering him brought a sense of danger and made his whole body tense—how could that be a good connection?
He was certain they were entangled by ill fate.
It was less of a hunch, and more of a certainty.
A thought suddenly came to him.
Could he truly chase after that man while living comfortably here?
Even now, the gap between them was so vast that he couldn’t reach him. How could he catch up with a dulled heart and body? He wasn’t confident.
‘Where I should be from now on isn’t within a safe city surrounded by high walls, but out in the wilderness, where rough winds and rain howl.’
Lee Gwak’s eyes grew resolute.
Lee Shin-chung looked at Lee Gwak’s face with an expectant expression. But the answer that came out of Lee Gwak’s mouth betrayed his anticipation.
“I’m sorry. While I’m grateful for your generous assessment of someone as lacking as me, this is not where I belong.”
“What? Why?”
“There is someone I have set as my goal. As I am now, I cannot possibly stand against him. I intend to undergo hardship in order to catch up to him, even if only a little.”
“If you have such a goal, wouldn’t it be better for you to join the Ten Thousand Merchant Union? I can provide secret manuals, elixirs—anything you desire!”
“I’m sorry, Master Lee.”
In the end, Lee Gwak firmly refused Lee Shin-chung’s offer.
Lee Shin-chung couldn’t understand why Lee Gwak would turn down the easy path and choose the difficult one instead.
If someone had a lofty goal, receiving the best support should be natural. That way, the time it would take to reach that goal could be shortened, even by a little.
“Mmm…”
A troubled sigh escaped through Lee Shin-chung’s lips.
He wanted to make another offer to Lee Gwak. But seeing the resolute look in Lee Gwak’s eyes and expression, he instinctively knew that no words would change his mind.
As the Vice Master of the Golden Sword Pavilion, Lee Shin-chung had met countless people. He could tell what kind of heart a person has just by looking into their eyes.
In Lee Gwak’s gaze, there was a strong conviction and unshakable resolve.
Rather than choosing the fast path like the clever ones, he showed the unwavering strength of a man who forged ahead with what he believed in.
‘I underestimated him. He will never join the Ten Thousand Merchant Union.’
Lee Shin-chung quietly closed his eyes.
A merchant never gives up on a profit under any circumstance. If the best option fails, a merchant always prepares a second-best.
Rather than forcing Lee Gwak to join now, Lee Shin-chung decided to be content with simply maintaining a thread of connection. As long as that thread of fate wasn’t severed, they would naturally cross paths again someday.
That was the second-best choice Lee Shin-chung had in mind.
“My apologies, Squad Leader Lee. I must have said something unnecessary and unsettled you.”
“Not at all. If anything, I should apologize.”
“Forget what I said about joining the Ten Thousand Merchant Union. For today, let’s just drink in peace. Hahaha!”
It was at that moment, as Lee Shin-chung burst out in hearty laughter—
“What’s so amusing?”
With a rough voice, Mo Yong-shin opened the door and walked in.
Lee Shin-chung smiled as he responded,
“It’s just that I enjoy talking with Squad Leader Lee. Did you meet with the Union Master?”
“I did. The man talks so much, it took all I had to pull away.”
“Hahaha!”
At Mo Yong-shin’s response, Lee Shin-chung burst into laughter again. It was because Eun Won-ho, the leader of Ten Thousand Merchant Union, was just as talkative as Mo Yong-shin.
Imagining those two chatterboxes together, it wasn’t hard to picture what sort of chaos might’ve unfolded.
Thud!
Mo Yong-shin placed the liquor bottle hanging from his waist onto the table.
“Shall we begin, then?”
He smirked.
* * *
The drinking session continued all night long.
Mo Yong-shin was truly an extraordinary drinker. No matter how much he drank, not a hint of drunkenness showed.
The one who ended up completely knocked out from drinking was Lee Shin-chung. He had passed out early and was now sprawled across the floor, completely unconscious.
“Tch! To be that weak with alcohol…”
Mo Yong-shin clicked his tongue as he looked at Lee Shin-chung. But he didn’t seem annoyed by it. On the contrary, he looked at the unconscious man with a pleased gaze.
He personally lifted Lee Shin-chung and laid him onto the bed.
“Ugh…”
Lee Shin-chung tossed and turned but didn’t wake up. Mo Yong-shin covered him with a blanket, then returned to the table where Lee Gwak still sat.
“You alright?”
“I’m fine.”
“As expected of a true man. Impressive!”
Mo Yong-shin gave a thumbs up to Lee Gwak, who responded with a slightly awkward expression. He didn’t quite understand how the conversation had turned in that direction.
Mo Yong-shin filled his cup with liquor and drank it in one gulp. The drink dripped down the beard around his mouth, but he didn’t care.
Clack!
He set his cup down and opened his mouth.
“Truth is, I stopped by the workshop before coming here. I heard about you from Kwang-ho.”
“……”
“No need to be so guarded. Kwang-ho and I, we’re not as loose-lipped as we may seem. Nothing we talked about will leak outside.”
At Mo Yong-shin’s words, Lee Gwak looked puzzled. Seeing this, Mo Yong-shin chuckled and said,
“I’m not particularly fond of the Jade Heaven Alliance. They’re far too greedy. But that doesn’t mean I’m cruel enough to pluck a flower that bloomed alone on barren soil like that alliance.”
“Mm!”
“Rather, I hope there will be more young martial artists like you. The young warriors of the Ten Thousand Merchant Union have been raised under excessive protection—there’s no trace of wildness left in them.”
Mo Yong-shin gave a bitter smile.
Such cases were especially pronounced within the Ten Thousand Merchant Union.
Having received the best support, many came to believe they had been exceptional from the start. Mo Yong-shin treated such people with harshness. That was why many found him difficult to deal with.
Mo Yong-shin looked at Lee Gwak with a satisfied expression.
As the head of the Heavenly Control Escort Agency, Mo Yong-shin had gone on countless escort missions. He had traveled all across Jianghu, met many people, and forged many connections.
Among them were top talents recognized throughout Jianghu and martial artists with skills that could shake the world.
They were certainly formidable, but none of them had met Mo Yong-shin’s expectations. They might have thought highly of themselves, but to him, they were nothing more than immature youths who didn’t yet understand the ways of the world.
It was true their strength came from their own efforts, but more than that, the backing of their sects or clans played the greater role. In a way, they had yet to experience true trials.
Their martial arts might be powerful, but their minds were still underdeveloped. That was why Mo Yong-shin didn’t rate them highly.
But Lee Gwak, the man sitting before him now was different.
Although he didn’t know the exact extent of Lee Gwak’s martial ability, if someone like Eun Kwang-ho recognized him based on self-taught martial arts, then he deserved that recognition.
The Eun Kwang-ho he knew was ruthlessly strict when it came to evaluating others.
“Young Master Lee!”
“Yes?”
“Don’t you want to know?”
“Know what, sir?”
“Your true capabilities.”
At Mo Yong-shin’s unexpected question, Lee Gwak blinked in surprise. A faint smile deepened at the corners of Mo Yong-shin’s lips.
Lee Gwak asked,
“What must I do to know my true ability?”
“What better way for a martial artist to assess his strength than through a sparring match?”
“Who would I be sparring with?”
“Isn’t he standing right in front of you?”
“Pardon?”
“How frustrating! I’m saying, spar with me.”
Mo Yong-shin slammed his fist down on the table. At that, Lee Gwak felt himself instantly sober up.
“Are you serious?”
“At my age, do you think I make jokes like that? Answer me! Do you want to spar with me or do you want to stay up all night drinking and wasting time?”
“I’ll spar with you.”
“Good decision. That’s how a man should be. Hahaha!”
Mo Yong-shin laughed heartily and rose to his feet.
The drunkenness had completely vanished from his face. Lee Gwak also circulated his internal energy to clear away the effects of the alcohol.
“Let’s go!”
“Yes!”
Lee Gwak followed Mo Yong-shin out to the training grounds.
Lee Gwak wasn’t sure why Mo Yong-shin had challenged him to a spar, but he had no reason to refuse.
A match with an expert like Mo Yong-shin was a rare and valuable opportunity.
Lee Gwak stood at the center of the training ground, facing Mo Yong-shin.
A glimmer of admiration briefly flashed in Mo Yong-shin’s eyes.
He was simply standing there, yet he gave off a presence as firm and unyielding as a boulder embedded deep in the earth.
None of the young martial artists Mo Yong-shin had faced until now had given him such an impression.
His stance was a little rough, but the spirit radiating from him was unshakable and resolute.
Lee Gwak was still a raw, unpolished gem.
And the chance to refine such a gem—untouched by the hands of others—to help it reveal its original shape and luster, was a rare and thrilling endeavor.
“Come!”
Mo Yong-shin beckoned with a flick of his fingers.
SoundlessWind21’s Notes:
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